MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 23, 2025

Iga Swiatek

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/E. Mertens

7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Iga, Elise is obviously a tough opponent. What are your thoughts on getting through that one in two sets?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure I'm happy that I got my level up in the tiebreaker to close it in two sets. Also in the second set I felt like I was playing good, big confidence.

Yeah, overall I'm happy with the performance and how I worked through some issues.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You have now made 25 consecutive round of 16 appearances in WTA 1000 events. How difficult is it to maintain that level of consistency at these high-profile events?

IGA SWIATEK: I mean, I don't know how to answer that, how difficult.

Like for me, I just focus on the next match and I don't take these first matches for granted. Even though I'm usually seeded, I know that the player, the opponent, is going to be lower ranked, I know that you need to always be ready and on your toes.

So yeah, I mean, how difficult? I don't know. Now when I actually did it, doesn't seem that difficult. Winning all these matches, it's not easy. I'm sure at some point I was in trouble in some of the tournaments. So I'm happy that I can show consistency because that was always my goal.

I always wanted that, so yeah...

Q. A question regarding No. 1. What did it feel like for you when you were No. 1? Now that you don't have it, is it a case of desperately wanting to get it back or does it really matter to you? Is it a case of also 'been there, done that'?

IGA SWIATEK: Well, of course it matters. Like, this is something we work for. But mathematically it's going to be tough for me to come back to No. 1 soon, even if I would win all the tournaments, I think.

So yeah, I mean, I kind of got over it. It was tough, like, in the Middle East swing because I realize I have this hole in my rankings because I didn't play China swing. It's not going to be possible to replace these points because I've been winning a lot that season. In early part of -- sorry. I was winning a lot last year in early part of the season.

I'm just focusing on the work. If I'm going to play well, it's going to come back. Also Aryna is playing well. Like, no one expects her to drop suddenly. She's doing good job. I think we're both competing at, like, similar level. We both deserve to fight for the spot.

But it's not like I'm thinking about it a lot. I'm more focusing on just improving as a tennis player and on my game. I think that's the healthiest way to go.

Q. Going back to part of the question: When you were No. 1, what did it feel like to you?

IGA SWIATEK: Honestly, every month differently depending on the challenges I faced. Sometimes I felt like I have a target on my back. Sometimes I just went for it and it gave me, like, extra boost.

I've been No. 1 for a long time, so it's impossible to always feel the same thing.

Q. You're one of the best returners we've seen in the women's game. We see ATP players like Daniil Medvedev, Rafael Nadal, they stand back on the return of serve. It's less common on the WTA side. Is this something you maybe see as something useful you could add to your game playing against some of the very best servers?

IGA SWIATEK: Thanks for saying that.

I think for sure it's a nice thing to have in your toolbox. I can return like that, but I feel like I can put much more pressure stepping in. I don't feel like I'm missing a lot. I didn't feel like I need to do that.

For sure, guys have a little bit more power. They are able to play from three meters behind the baseline for a whole match. In women's game, when everybody is stepping in, this really playing sometimes from the baseline, I think you can lose more from that.

Guys, they are taking a bit more time to build the rally and figure out the tactical side. Sometimes in WTA, girls are hitting the first ball possible, stepping in, stepping in, stepping in. We don't have time always to come back and build a rally.

But I can return like that.

Q. Some general thoughts on your next match against Svitolina. You've played the early matches here, 11, 12 starts, whatever it is. Your next start is 8:30 p.m. at the earliest. Is that tough to make the transition, eating, sleeping, everything that comes with it?

IGA SWIATEK: For sure everything is different. You need to adjust to that. Sometimes it's easier, sometimes it's more difficult.

Yeah, I've been playing some early matches, and I'm happy that I did that 'cause then I have a full day kind of recovery, extra time.

But yeah, we'll see I guess. I'm not going to think much about that before. I'm just going to do what I always do when I play night session. We'll see if my game is going to be different or not.

For sure the conditions are going to be different. We need to consider that. This is something I'm going to focus more than all that time before.